England have officially announced their squad numbers for the upcoming Euro 2024 campaign. The squad, as confirmed by Gareth Southgate earlier this week, includes some surprising exclusions such as Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, and James Maddison. However, despite these omissions, Southgate has assembled an impressive team filled with attacking talent and promising young players like Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton.
One area of concern for England is their defense, particularly with regards to the fitness of John Stones, Kieran Trippier, and Luke Shaw. Stones is expected to start and was subbed off as a precautionary measure after England’s recent shocking defeat against Iceland at Wembley. The choice for Stones’ defensive partner is still up for debate, but Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi seems to be favored over Lewis Dunk, who has been assigned the No.15 shirt.
England’s squad numbers for Euro 2024 are as follows:
1 – Jordan Pickford
2 – Kyle Walker
3 – Luke Shaw
4 – Declan Rice
5 – John Stones
6 – Marc Guehi
7 – Bukayo Saka
8 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
9 – Harry Kane
10 – Jude Bellingham
11 – Phil Foden
12 – Kieran Trippier
13 – Aaron Ramsdale
14 – Ezri Konsa
15 – Lewis Dunk
16 – Conor Gallagher
17 – Ivan Toney
18 – Anthony Gordon
19 – Ollie Watkins
20 – Jarrod Bowen
21 – Eberechi Eze
22 – Joe Gomez
23 – Dean Henderson
24 – Cole Palmer
25 – Adam Wharton
26 – Kobbie Mainoo
Looking ahead to England’s opening match against Serbia, Southgate believes that the team’s recent defeat to Iceland will serve as a wake-up call and help them focus on the challenges ahead. He emphasized the need for the team to be fully committed and not rely solely on their talent. Football at this level requires a comprehensive approach and attention to every aspect of the game. Southgate acknowledged that Iceland deserved their victory and hopes that this loss will motivate the team to perform better in the upcoming weeks.
In response to the defeat against Iceland, midfielder Declan Rice defended his Manchester United teammate and urged fans not to criticize him. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo sent a message to the England fans who booed the team after the humbling defeat, urging them to continue supporting the team. Southgate also addressed the booing fans, stating that it serves as a reminder of the team’s responsibilities and the need to perform at their best.